Set up independent media regulator, Karat tells PM

New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Wednesday sent a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, seeking the establishment of an independent regulatory body to monitor television news channels.In the letter, of which IANS has a copy, Karat said that besides the self-regulatory mechanism of the news channels, it was necessary to have an independent media regulator and this should be “discussed and a common approach arrived at”.

“Till then, no steps should be taken to empower the government and the administration to further regulate the news channels,” he added.

Referring to the proposals the government was discussing to amend the Cable Television (Regulation) Rules, he said: “Our party is of the opinion that no hasty steps should be taken for media regulation.”

The centre has been working on an improved regulatory mechanism for the media after the alleged irresponsible television coverage of the 60-hour terror carnage in Mumbai in November.